Gustavo Saposnik

Gustavo Saposnik is a staff neurologist and director of the Stroke Research Unit at St. Michael's Hospital. He is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, with a cross-appointment to the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation. He joined ICES in 2008 as an adjunct scientist.

Dr. Saposnik's research team has developed a risk score (the iScore) and web tool to assist clinicians estimate stroke outcomes. They have also explored the use of virtual reality with gaming technology to rehabilitate patients with recent strokes.

Dr. Saposnik is leader of Stroke Outcome Research Canada (SORCan), a group of investigators that aim to improve access to and quality of stroke care across Canada. He holds a Distinguished Clinician Scientist Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Dr. Saposnik took a sabbatical to enroll in a PhD program in Neuroeconomics (Decision neuroscience) at the University of Zurich (2015-2016). The focus of his thesis is the study of cognitive factors and personal traits that would influence medical decisions (e.g. diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic or management errors) by applying concepts from behavioral economics/neuroeconomics into clinical care and medical education.

His international leadership in stroke outcomes research is reflected by grants (17 as PI), awards, over 198 peer-reviewed publications (90 as first and 57 as senior author), collaborations, invitations as visiting professor and his role in the American Heart Association Stroke Oversight Committee and seven AHA writing groups.

Dr. Saposnik's work has an international impact as reflected in the last annual reviews on ‘Advances in Stroke, Health Policy and Outcomes’ published in Stroke (Rudd et al. Stroke 2009; 40(5): e301-4, Williams et al. Stroke 2010;41(2): e77-80 and Brainin et al. Stroke 2013;44(2): 311-3) and Lancet (Lancet 2011; 377: May 14), as well as citations of his work in NEJM, Lancet (2011) and Nature Neurology (2016).